A Closer Look: Who are the new Emirati astronauts?

In A Closer Look, The National provides an in-depth take on one of the main stories of the week

After 24 months of rigorous training, Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla, along with 10 American astronauts, graduated from training at a Nasa ceremony held in Houston, Texas.

They are now eligible for future missions to the ISS, the under-construction Lunar Gateway and, one day, the Moon.

Here, host Sarah Forster hears from The National's Space Editor Sarwat Nasir who spoke to the two graduates after the ceremony about their hopes for the next small step in their careers.

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UAE begins work on historic Lunar Gateway project

UAE’s Nora Al Matrooshi hopes for Moon mission after completing astronaut training

Space X astronauts blast off – in pictures

The Nasa SpaceX Crew-8, from left: Michael Barratt, pilot; Matthew Dominick, commander; and mission specialists Alexander Grebenkin and Jeanette Epps in Titusville, Florida, shortly before the space flight. EPA

Barratt waves goodbye to family members before heading to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. AFP

Grebenkin, a cosmonaut, walks towards the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in Cape Canaveral, which then carried the crew to the ISS. AFP

The countdown in Cape Canaveral is almost complete. AFP

The rocket lifts off from launch pad. AFP

Carrying the crew's capsule, the Falcon 9 rocket lights up the sky over Cape Canaveral. AFP

The four astronauts embark on their journey to the ISS. AFP